RI Adds Imports From The US, Airlangga Says It Will Be Adjusted To Domestic Needs
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that Indonesia would increase imports from the United States (US) worth 18 billion US dollars to 19 billion US dollars.
Meanwhile, this policy is part of an effort to negotiate on the import rate of 32 percent previously announced by US President Donald Trump.
Airlangga explained that the additional imports aim to reduce the deficit in the US trade balance towards Indonesia and will be adjusted to domestic needs.
"Indonesia's plan to compensate for delta rather than exports and imports, amounting to USD 18 billion. Therefore, technically the commodities have been prepared," Airlangga said at a press conference, Monday, April 14.
Airlangga emphasized that all goods to be imported are products that are needed by Indonesia.
On the same occasion, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso added that imports from the US are likely to be carried out in stages, and this step is a strategy to balance the trade balance between the two countries.
"The context is balance deficit, it must be calculated in the trade balance. The point is that we increase the purchase of goods from the US to close the deficit. The deficit is around that, around 18 months," said Susiwijono.
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However, the government has not announced in detail the types of additional goods to be imported from the US.
But previously, President Prabowo Subianto had expressed his desire to increase imports of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the United States.